Coffin



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. NORDEN, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS.

coFpFlN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,426, dated March 9,1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs J. NOEDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at De Kalb, in the county of De Kalb and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ooffins, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a construction, which is formed by the additionto or connection with an ordinary coffin, of adjustable legs orsupports.

I have illustrated my invention by the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a perspective View of coffin with legs extended for thepurpose of supporting the same. Fig. 2 is a plan view of under side ofcoffin having my adjustable legs or supports secured there to. Fig. 3 isa section view showing the application of spring.

Like letters refer to like parts in the differ ent views.

A indicates a coffin.

B indicates the downward extension of the coffin, within which or insideo f which the ad- 2 5 justable supports .are secured and operated.

d d d d indicate the adjustable legs, which constitute the principalelement of my invention, said legs being connected together by the axlese e, which axles are shown in the drawings as extending outward from thelegs and within the lower extension of the coffin, thus affording abearing for said axles and the legs connected therewith. This particularfeature of construction is immaterial, however, as any suitable supportfor the axles may be connected to or with the lower portion of thecoffin.

h indicates aspring which is connected with the under side of thecoffin, said connection being preferably central,'the free ends of saidspring extending beyond theaxles e e.

k k indicate slots near the outer ends of said spring, thus formingshoulders n n, which act to firmly support the axles e e when the legsare extended, or in position for supporting the coffin. When the legsare in the position last indicated, the axles e e pass within the slotsk la, so that the shoulders n n prevent the axles from turning in eitherdirection until released by a downward movement or withdrawal of thespring. j

It will be evident that instead of using a spring of the preciseconstruction whichl have shown, having the slots as described, any styleof spring may be used, formed either of wood or metal, havingprojections or lugs which would perform the oiiice of preventing theturning of the axles until the pressure of the spring had beenwithdrawn. a

Ifp referred, the legs and the con necting-axle passing between thesaine may be cast or otherwise formed together.

My invention is designed to afford a convenient means for supportingcoflins, which means are immediately connected with the coffin, asshown, thus avoiding the necessity of using independent supports.

It is well known that considerable inconvenience is experienced in usingseparate supports upon which to place coffins, it often happening thatsaid supports are not at hand when needed.

My improvements add but a trilling expense to the cost of a coffin. Theyare always in a position for immediate use, and when the coffin isextended downward, as shown in the drawings, the legs and other partsreferred to are entirely concealed from view until the legs or supportsare required for the purpose for which they were intended.

It often happens where a regular undertaker is not employed that it isnot possible to obtain suitable supports for cofflns without having thesame made for the particular occasion for which they were desired.

The spring shown and described,besides acting to hold the supportsfirmly in position when the same are extended, performs the furtheroffice of holding said legs or supports out of the way and against thebottom of the coffin when the same are folded upward. As will be seen,the spring compresses upon or against the axles and prevents the samefrom turning. I

Vhile axles for this purpose or use may be varied in form', it isessential that they should be of such shape as to cause the slot in thespring or the projections or lugs thereon to afford a resistance whichprevents the turning of the axles, which resistance could not be securedor attained were such axles round, or so constructed as not to havesides.

With my improvements attached to or connected with a coffin the same maybe readily and securely supported at any time and in a IOO manner whichdoes not present to the eye anything which is unsightly.

My improvements may be connected with any kind or class of cofflns.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

l. The combination, with a coffin, of downward extensions from thebottom, legs mounted on an axle arbored in said extensions, said axlebeing rectangular and of greater width in one direction than the other,aspring fastened v to the bottom'of the cofn and provided at each endwith rectangular recesses of asize to receive the short side of theaxle, whereby the legs will be firmly held in their extended p0- sitionby the shoulders of the recess, and also retained when folded againstthe bottom ofthe cofn by the pressure of the springs upon the broad sideof the axles, substantially as de scribed and shown.

2. The combination, with legs mounted upon an axle arbored toprojections from the bottom of a cofliu, said axle being rectangular inshape, of a spring attached to the bottom of the coffin and having atits end a rectangular recess adapted to receive one side of the saidaxle and brace it with the legsin extended position, whereby the legsare held,as aforesaid, in their extended position, or are ,retained intheir folded position against the bottom ofthe coffin by the pressure ofthe spring upon one of the ilat sides of the axle, substantially asdescribed and shown.

3. The combination of a coiin having its sides projecting down below thebottom, legs mounted upon axles arbored in said `projections, and meansfor bracing said legs in their extended position and holding them intheir position when folded against the bottom of the coffin, said sidesbeing extended below the plane of the mechanism when the legs are intheir folded position, guardingit at such times from injury,substantially as described and shown. l

CHARLES J. NORDEN.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK C. GOODWIN, E. L. HUBER.

